The surroundings were all white, an empty expanse with nothing in sight. In the middle of this endless whiteness, a girl was bound by thick, heavy chains that looked unbreakable.
Five chains in total held her in place: one wrapped around her neck, one binding her right arm, another on her left, and two securing her right and left legs. Her dress was torn, scratched all over, though it was just part of the dress's design.
In front of her stood another girl, identical in every way. She had the same snow-pale skin that seemed to glow in the vast whiteness, the same piercing red eyes that shone like embers, and the same long, dark hair cascading over her shoulders—an uncanny reflection, as if they were twins. Yet, there was one stark difference: only one of them was chained. The girl in chains struggled against the heavy bindings that dug into her skin, while the other stood freely, her bare feet rooted to the ground as she gazed at the chained girl.
She sighed, looking down at the chained girl, and spoke softly. "You know, you should just give me your body. I need it to save the people of this world. Why aren't you listening? I am you, and you are me—we're the same person. The only difference is that I have more experience, and I'm not from this timeline. If you'd just let me take over, you wouldn't have to suffer like this, right? So why… why won't you just give me your body?"
"Because this is my body, not yours," the chained girl replied, her voice steady despite the bindings. "I don't fully understand what's happening, but I've seen parts of your memories. I know I can meet Alex again—that's why I need to stay alive."
These two girls were both Alex's girlfriends 'Elara', which might seem confusing at first. But they were the same person, each from a different timeline. One was from the original timeline, the other from an alternate one, and both versions were of the same girl. That's why they were both connected to Alex—not in a harem-like way, I hate harem.
"You don't know what he did to our world," she said, her voice laced with anger. "He completely destroyed it, all for power. I barely escaped into this timeline just to kill him. That's why you need to give me your body. Even if you don't want to, I can still take it by force. Just wait—I want to see how many days you can hold on like that."
With those words, she vanished from the endless white void, leaving the chained Elara alone in silence. Tears were pouring out of her eyes slowly as soon as Elara(2) disappeared.
"I don't know what to do now," Elara murmured, her voice wavering. "I don't believe Alex would destroy the world. I know he must have a reason… even if he goes against the world, destroys it, or even uses me as a pawn in his plans, I'll always be on his side—for eternity." She took a deep breath, and slowly, the tears stopped flowing. Exhausted, Elara closed her eyes and drifted into sleep.
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The early morning sun cast its gaze over the forest, its golden rays filtering through the dense canopy of leaves. Shafts of light danced between branches, painting the ground in soft patches of warmth and shadow.
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The forest floor was blanketed with dew-kissed moss and leaves, glistening in the sunlight like tiny jewels. Birds chirped faintly in the distance, their songs blending with the gentle rustle of leaves swaying in the cool breeze.
In a small clearing, a boy, no older than ten, sat cross-legged in quiet meditation on a large rock. Sunlight fell over him, illuminating his face as he sat perfectly still, immersed in the calm of the forest around him.
Alex sat in the quiet forest, his mind focused inward, trying to grasp something intangible—his will. His long, shoulder-length black hair, the right edges tinged with cyan, swayed gently in the breeze as he remained still. Finding one's will was not an easy task. It was like searching for your true self, your very essence, buried deep within your mind. That was the challenge. It wasn't just difficult—it was the reason why so few people ever became magicians in the world.
Alex had learned this before coming to the forest. The concept of will, its strength, and its connection to the mana core were all theories he had studied. But theory was one thing—experiencing it was another. With his eyes closed, he is trying to find the will of his own but it's been 2 hours he still couldn't find it.
Gradually, Alex's face grew paler, his features twisting with the signs of inner struggle. His brows furrowed deeply, the tension evident even in the slight twitch of his muscles. After a long minute, he finally opened his eyes, but the effort was too much. Overcome by exhaustion, he toppled from the rock. His body lurched forward, crashing to the ground. His head struck the earth, and he lay there, his back exposed to the sky.
As Alex lay unconscious on the ground, the day slowly shifted into afternoon, and then to evening. The sun's descent into the horizon marked the passage of time, and as the darkness crept in, a growing sense of worry settled over the village. Alex had been missing since morning, and with his condition as a patient, the responsibility for his safety weighed heavily on the shoulders of the old man Maren and his granddaughter, Lira. They searched tirelessly, combing the woods for any sign of him, their concern deepening with each passing hour.
Meanwhile, in the stillness of the forest, Alex remained unaware of the danger lurking nearby. From the dense bushes, a low rustling sound emerged, followed by the unmistakable crunch of heavy footsteps. A beast, the size of a fully grown zebra, emerged from the underbrush. Its fur was a mottled blend of dark browns and grays, its powerful limbs built for both speed and strength. The creature's eyes glowed with an unsettling yellow hue, its gaze cold and predatory. Long, curved fangs extended from its upper and lower jaws, sharp enough to tear through flesh with ease. The beast's claws were equally menacing, like curved daggers designed for rending.
A low growl rumbled in the beast's throat as it sniffed the air, clearly sensing Alex's presence. Its massive frame moved with silent precision, every muscle tensed as its keen senses scoured the area for any signs of movement or sound. At that very moment, Alex stirred, emerging from the depths of unconsciousness. A sharp, blinding pain coursed through his forehead, pulling him back to reality. His vision blurred for a moment, and he winced, his hand instinctively pressing to his temple as he struggled to sit up. His breath came in ragged gasps, the world spinning for a second as he tried to gather his bearings.
Slowly, his eyes focused, and as the haze lifted, they locked onto the creature standing just a few feet away. His heart slammed against his chest as he took in the beast's terrifying form. The glowing yellow eyes, the razor-sharp fangs, the way it crouched low, ready to pounce—every instinct in Alex screamed to run, but his body was too weak, still recovering from the long stretch of unconsciousness. He knew with icy certainty: if he couldn't move, he was dead.